Wind Machine Pumping System for Accumulating and Pumping Underground Water from Below the Water Table

ABSTRACT

A water pumping system having a wind machine driving an air compressor. The tower extends underground into the water saturated ground below the water table. The base of the tower has a water accumulator chamber with a one-way inlet valve such that water can pass into the water chamber. An outlet conduit communicates with the water chamber such that water within the chamber can be delivered to an external water tank by the compressed air.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/517,565, filed Apr. 21, 2011.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of wind powered devices, commonly referred to as wind machines. More particularly the invention relates to wind machines used to pump water.

Wind machines comprising bladed rotor members are well known and have been around for hundreds of years. The rotating blade assemblies are positioned on towers or other static structures and the rotational energy is used to drive a generator, air compressor, water pump, grinding mill or other equipment. In recent times interest in wind machines has increased as a viable alternative energy source to replace the reliance on fossil fuels. One known use for wind machines is to pump water from a well, reservoir, lake or the like.

It is an object of this invention to provide a wind machine as a means for withdrawing water from the beneath the surface of the underground water table, i.e., the level below which the ground is saturated with water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is in general a system comprising a wind machine comprising a rotating blade assembly that is rotated by the force of the wind, the blade assembly being mounted on a tower or other fixed structure and used to drive an air compressor. In a preferred embodiment, the tower extends underground into the water saturated ground, the aquifer, an underground lake, etc., below the water table. The base of the tower comprises a water accumulator chamber with a one-way inlet valve such that water from below the water table can pass into the water chamber. An outlet conduit communicates with the water chamber such that water within the chamber can be delivered to an external water tank. With water present in the chamber, the air compressor is actuated to deliver compressed air into the water chamber, thereby driving water from the water chamber through the outlet conduit. Alternatively, compressed air can be stored within an air accumulator tank and released when needed to pressurize the water chamber to deliver the water. Alternatively, the suction operation of the air compressor can be used to recharge the accumulator tank by drawing air from the water chamber after the water has been discharged, thereby suctioning water from the saturated ground into the water chamber through the inlet valve. Alternatively, the water chamber and/or the air accumulator tank may be provided as structures separate from the wind machine tower.

In the preferred embodiment the invention is a wind machine pumping system for accumulating and pumping ground water from below the water table comprising a wind machine comprising a rotating blade assembly and a tower; an air compressor operated by said wind machine; an underground water chamber, at least a portion of said water chamber being positioned beneath the water table; a one-way inlet valve communicating with said water chamber, said inlet valve being located below the water table and adapted to allow ground water to pass into said water chamber; an outlet conduit connected to said water chamber; an air accumulator tank connected between and in communication with said air compressor and said water chamber, whereby said air compressor delivers compressed air to said air accumulator tank for storage prior to delivery to said water chamber; whereby said compressed air is delivered from said air accumulator tank to said water chamber, thereby forcing water accumulated within said water chamber out through said outlet conduit, and further wherein said water chamber and said air accumulator tank are located within said tower, and wherein said air compressor is adapted to suction air from said water chamber in addition to delivering compressed air to said air accumulator; whereby water is drawn into said water chamber through said inlet valve by suctioning air from said water chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a representative illustration of a first embodiment of the wind machine water pumping system for pumping water from beneath the water table.

FIG. 2 is a representative illustration of an alternative embodiment of the wind machine water pumping system for pumping water from beneath the water table, wherein the water chamber and the accumulator tank are separate from the wind machine tower.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawings, the invention will be described in detail with regard for the best mode and preferred embodiments.

The invention is in general a system comprising a wind machine 10 comprising a rotating blade assembly 11 that is rotated by the force of the wind, the blade assembly 11 mounted on a tower or other fixed structure 14 and used to drive an air compressor 20. The embodiment shown in the drawings is a wind machine 10 having a drive cable 12 positioned about a perimeter channel 13, but other types of wind machines having mechanisms suitable for operating a n air compressor would also be suitable. The air compressor 20 is adapted to deliver compressed air and, preferably, to suction air as well.

In a preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, the tower 14 extends below ground surface 91 into the water saturated ground, the aquifer, an underground lake, etc. 93, below the water table 92. The base of the tower 14 comprises a water accumulator chamber 30 with a one-way inlet valve 31 such that water 94 from the saturated ground 93 can pass through the one-way inlet valve 31 and into the water chamber 30. The inlet valve 31 and at least a portion of the water chamber 30 is located below the water table 92. An outlet conduit 32 communicates with the water chamber 30 such that water 94 within the chamber 30 can be delivered to an external water tank, water system, water tower, etc. 90.

In one operational mode, when sufficient water 94 has accumulated in the water chamber 30, the air compressor 30 is actuated to deliver compressed air into the water chamber 30 through an air conduit 22, thereby driving water 94 from the water chamber 30 through the outlet conduit 32 into the external water tank 90. When the water chamber 30 is empty, the compressed air from the air compressor 30 is shut off and the water chamber 30 is vented to allow water to refill the chamber 30. It is also possible to utilize the suction function of the air compressor 20 to create a negative pressure in the water chamber 30 to assist in drawing water 94 through the one-way inlet valve 31.

In an alternative embodiment, compressed air can be stored within an air accumulator tank 21 and released when needed to pressurize the water chamber 30 to deliver the water 94 into the external water tank 90. When the water chamber 30 is empty, the compressed air remaining in the water chamber 30 can be suctioned and vented, such as through suction conduit 23, or drawn back into the air accumulator tank 21, such that full recharge of the accumulator tank pressure is more easily and quickly accomplished by the wind machine 10. The suction of air from the water chamber 30 will result in more rapid water intake into the water chamber 30 through the inlet valve 31.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the water chamber 30 and the air accumulator tank 21 are provided as structures separate from the wind machine tower 14, with the water chamber 30 being buried underground such that the inlet valve 31 is below the water table 92. The air compressor 20, air accumulator tank 21 and the water chamber are connected by air conduits 22.

It is understood that equivalents and substitutions for certain elements and structures set forth above may be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art, and therefore the true scope and definition of the invention is to be as set forth in the following claims. 

1. A wind machine pumping system for accumulating and pumping ground water from below the water table comprising: a wind machine comprising a rotating blade assembly and a tower; an air compressor operated by said wind machine; an underground water chamber, at least a portion of said water chamber being positioned beneath the water table; a one-way inlet valve communicating with said water chamber, said inlet valve being located below the water table and adapted to allow ground water to pass into said water chamber; an air conduit connecting said air compressor and said water chamber; an outlet conduit connected to said water chamber; whereby said air compressor delivers compressed air to said water chamber, thereby forcing water accumulated within said water chamber out through said outlet conduit.
 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an air accumulator tank connected between said air compressor and said water chamber, whereby compressed air is stored within said air accumulator tank prior to delivery to said water chamber.
 3. The system of claim 1, further comprising an external storage tank, wherein said outlet conduit is connected to said storage tank.
 4. The system of claim 2, further comprising an external storage tank, wherein said outlet conduit is connected to said storage tank.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein said water chamber is located within said tower.
 6. The system of claim 2, wherein said water chamber is located within said tower.
 7. The system of claim 2, wherein said air accumulator chamber is located within said tower.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein said air compressor is adapted to suction air from said water chamber in addition to delivering compressed air to said water chamber; whereby water is drawn into said water chamber through said inlet valve by suctioning air from said water chamber.
 9. The system of claim 2, wherein said air compressor is adapted to suction air from said water chamber in addition to delivering compressed air to said water chamber; whereby water is drawn into said water chamber through said inlet valve by suctioning air from said water chamber.
 10. The system of claim 4, wherein said air compressor is adapted to suction air from said water chamber in addition to delivering compressed air to said water chamber; whereby water is drawn into said water chamber through said inlet valve by suctioning air from said water chamber.
 11. The system of claim 5, wherein said air compressor is adapted to suction air from said water chamber in addition to delivering compressed air to said water chamber; whereby water is drawn into said water chamber through said inlet valve by suctioning air from said water chamber.
 12. The system of claim 6, wherein said air compressor is adapted to suction air from said water chamber in addition to delivering compressed air to said water chamber; whereby water is drawn into said water chamber through said inlet valve by suctioning air from said water chamber.
 13. A wind machine pumping system for accumulating and pumping ground water from below the water table comprising: a wind machine comprising a rotating blade assembly and a tower; an air compressor operated by said wind machine; an underground water chamber, at least a portion of said water chamber being positioned beneath the water table; a one-way inlet valve communicating with said water chamber, said inlet valve being located below the water table and adapted to allow ground water to pass into said water chamber; an outlet conduit connected to said water chamber; an air accumulator tank connected between and in communication with said air compressor and said water chamber, whereby said air compressor delivers compressed air to said air accumulator tank for storage prior to delivery to said water chamber; whereby said compressed air is delivered from said air accumulator tank to said water chamber, thereby forcing water accumulated within said water chamber out through said outlet conduit.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein said water chamber is located within said tower.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein said air accumulator tank is located within said tower.
 16. The system of claim 13, wherein said air compressor is adapted to suction air from said water chamber in addition to delivering compressed air to said air accumulator; whereby water is drawn into said water chamber through said inlet valve by suctioning air from said water chamber.
 17. The system of claim 14, wherein said air compressor is adapted to suction air from said water chamber in addition to delivering compressed air to said air accumulator; whereby water is drawn into said water chamber through said inlet valve by suctioning air from said water chamber.
 18. The system of claim 15, wherein said air compressor is adapted to suction air from said water chamber in addition to delivering compressed air to said air accumulator; whereby water is drawn into said water chamber through said inlet valve by suctioning air from said water chamber. 